Propellant powder



Patent Dec. 6, 1927.

CHARLES H. KECK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROPELLANT POWDER.

No Drawing.

Application filed July 27, 1926. Serial No. 125,284..

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883; 22' STAT. L. 625.)

the flash under varying conditions of use,

and increasing the proportion of flash reducing agent results in the production of smoke.

The principal object of the present invention is to utilize an ingredient which will unvaryingly produce the desired flashless result, reduce the hygroscopicity of the powder and also serve as a stabilizer.

In accomplishing this purpose I propose to incorporate in a nitrocellulose powder nitrated linseed oil or nitrated castor oil.

As an example of powders of this type several which proved very successful consist of the following composition.

Per cent. Nitrocellulose (11-13.5N) 97 Nitrated linseed oil 3 'Nitrocellulose (1113.5N) 97 Nitrated castor oil 3 These proportions may be varied and the oil may be reduced to 1% or increased to 15% to give reduction in flash without producing smoke. With an oil content of 5 to 10% nitrocellulose powder is brought within the hygroscopicity limits for an improved powder.

In addition to giving good uniformity,

velocity and pressure incorporation of the oils increase the shrinkage of the colloid giving a denser powder and therefore increasing the capaclty of the cartridge case 15 These oils are better stabilizers for nitrocellulose powder than diphenylamine which is universally used for this purpose, the results of the various tests mdicating a higher order of stability.

Vegetable oils, such as linseed oil and castor oil may be nitrated as follows:

(a) Acid.

Per cent. Nitric acid 19 Sulphuric acid 68 Water 13 N itrio ratio 0.3 pounds HNO to one pound of castor oil or linseed oil.

(6) Nitratz'o n.

Castor oil, mixed with equal parts (by weight) of glacial acetic acid. Linseed oil miged with its weight of glacial acetic am The mixtures are nitrated with the above nixed acid at a temperature below 15 C. After all the acid has been added, the mixture is cooked for hour at the same tem- 70 perature.

I claim:

1. A powder including nitrocellulose 85 to 99% and nitrated castor oil 1 to 15%.

2. A powder including nitrocellulose 85 to 99% and nitrated vegetable oil 1 to 15%.

3. A nitrocellulose powder in which is incorporated nitrated vegetable oil.

4. A nitrocellulose powder in which is incorporated nitrated castor oil.

CHARLES H. Knox. 

